Negative Effects of Genetic Modification to Humans

Advances in Modern Technologies and the Controversy of Genetic Modification

Throughout the social history course, advances in modern technologies have resulted in a wide range of views within the classes that own them. At the present, one of the most contentious issues in science is the morality and practicality of genetic modification. Genetic alteration is the mechanism of rearranging an organism's genes within its DNA. Some people agree that genetic engineering should be promoted to its full extent, whilst others argue that the benefits of genetic modification outweigh the drawbacks and hence should be prohibited. The manipulation of genes is both an important and potentially dangerous weapon. To change the DNA nucleotides sequence that code for a complex living organism’s structure, can have extremely detrimental effects.

The Prospective Benefits of Genetic Modification

One debate group believe that modification of genes, when adequately researched as well as investigated comprises a large prospective for benefiting humanity. Before genetic application applications, genetic therapy never existed also defects in the genes were inherited, plaguing generations for several decades. Genetic testing including chromosome prenatal karyotyping to check for abnormalities of genes is available today. Moreover, genetic testing is a useful tool for families that have autosomal recessive conditions when in need of children. The technique is helpful to individuals who have inherited a disorder of the genes which later in life becomes apparent including the Huntington’s disease (Baltimore 36).

Advancements in Gene Therapy

In the present day, gene therapy advancement makes it possible to remove genes that are faulty and replace it with a gene that is functioning in cells that lack this function. The techniques are in experimental stages, although available. For instance, therapy of the somatic cells uses genes that are faulty to target the areas that are affected by genetic treatment. This technique is useful in cancer, blood, liver as well as lung treatment. Unwanted effects of the method are not passed to the next generation since the procedure is localized. Advances in genetic modification make a reality the possibility of designer babies. Enhancement of genes is possible, and individuals alter the inferior genes to more superior ones. The preferred characteristics include intelligence, as well as perfect health and so on. The technique introduces a society that is perfect without physical imperfections, low intelligence nor personality traits that are undesirable (Waddington 11).

Potential Dangers and Concerns of Genetic Modification

DNA that is genetically modified is unstable, therefore raising concerns. Genetically modified DNA causes damage to crops as well as individuals consuming it. DNA mutations are tied closely to cancer as well as other diseases, therefore making mutagenic materials have dire effects on the health of humans. Moreover, changing the human DNA structure causes some problems including the subsequent natural variation loss, also minimal variation in personalities as well as looks. Natural variation loss inhibits new genes formation, therefore severely decreasing the gene pool availability. For subtle adaptations, natural variation is critical, on the larger scale of life. Subtle adaptations aid in the species adaptation to the environment that is changing. The widespread genetic alteration would lead to a bred out of genes that are required for particular circumstances or else varied environments encountered by an individual. Without the gene to initiate adaptation in times of environmental change, individuals might perish (Gaudet et al. 361).

Moreover, genetic modification affects the genes interdependence. One gene is responsible for coding for numerous features while several genes are frequently needed for one characteristic coding. Despite the fact that chromosome mapping is beneficial, without test crossing with an individual’s valuable characteristics, the functions of the genes cannot be known. Therefore, when a gene is removed from an individual, the features may not be understood. The gene that is removed may also have a role to play in other functions. In the same way, the genes that are introduced may have some unknown functions. The introduced genes may bring effects that can be noticed immediately or else cause long-term changes that are significant. Little is known about the changes occurring in the future as well as potential dangers likely to be inherited before being detected. Through time, such issues may accumulate, therefore hard to stop.

The Role of Genetic Modification in Organ Transplantation

The DNA of pigs is altered to suit the immunology of human beings. Increase in road safety, as well as technologies that save lives, has led to a problem of shortage of organ donors. The organs of pigs have found use because they function in a similar way to the organs of a human being. Despite the fact that the pig’s immunology is comparable to that of humans, rejection occurs. The antibodies of humans would recognize the tissue of pigs as foreign and can destroy it or else cause the recipient some issues. The pig’s tissue antigenic properties are altered by genetically introducing the DNA of a human that will not undergo rejection by the immune system of humans.

The method has benefits including ensuring a ready organ supply not dependent on a healthy person’s death. Also, the procedure provides advanced transplant preparation time, therefore minimizing the rejection risks. On the other hand, the technique encourages the possible introduction of new diseases to humans. Previously, a discovery of a retrovirus has been viewed to cause humans severe ill effects potentially but is harmless to pigs.

The Impact of Genetic Modification on the Food Industry

Genetic modification has found substantial use in the food industry. Humankind benefits from food that is genetically modified in several ways. Genetically engineered food favorably sustains human health as well as enriches the consumer’s well-being, since it can remove the problem of malnutrition facing the world today. Crops that are genetically modified can be edible vaccines, thus reducing disease vulnerability. Malnutrition issues can help the humankind with nutrients they lack including vitamin D as well as iron. A reduction of disease susceptibility can be achieved if vaccines that are edible are added into the genetically modified foods including genetically modified banana. Bananas that are genetically modified prevent diseases, for instance, Hepatitis B. the World Health Organization asserts that the individuals who test positive for the deficiency of iron are approximately two billion. Researchers have come up with rice that is polished and that has intensified iron content. Genes are inserted into food that is genetically modified to affect iron accumulation positively. Genetically modified rice comprises six times more iron than the original variety.

To the contrary, a plant that is genetically modified could hypothetically have a nutritional quality that is lower compared to the original variety since nutrients are made unavailable or else indigestible to humankind. For instance, phytate compound usually is found in seeds as well as grains and binds with minerals making them inaccessible to humans. Plants inserted with genes could make the compound of phytate be produced in abundant, therefore reducing the nutritional value of the plant. Moreover, a study has found that soybean that is genetically modified provides the compound of phytoestrogen at lower levels than the original variety. The compound is understood to protect against the diseases of the heart as well as cancer.

The Health and Environmental Concerns of Genetically Modified Foods

GM food causes food allergy to humans. About 5% of children as well as 2% of adults are affected by food allergies in the United States and is significant to the threat of public health. Allergic reaction refers to the stimulation of an immune response when a natural protein that is harmless enters the body. The concern of immune response elicitation increases when the novel protein in a genetically modified food originates from an allergy known source or else an unknown source.

Some of the GM foods produce toxic substances to the human body. The plants consumed by humans produce toxins at levels that are low, producing no adverse effects. Researchers are concerned that foreign gene insertion into plants might result in the production of higher levels of toxins dangerous to humans. Toxins are generated during the process of gene insertion. If other plant genes get damaged during the process of introduction, the toxin production of the plant is altered. Alternatively, a pathway of metabolism could be interfered, making the plant stressed and producing more toxins in response (Bawa and Anilakumar 1035).

Recently, the number of bacterial strains displaying antibiotic resistance has increased. Antibiotic resistance genes are created by bacteria when developing antibiotic resistance through natural mutation. Genes that are resistant to antibiotics are used by biotechnologists as selectable markers when introducing novel genes into the plants. Scientists do not know if the novel gene will be incorporated into the genome of the target plant, in the early stages of the process. Scientists are concerned that antibiotic resistance genes could be picked up by the bacteria living in humans' guts from a plant that is genetically modified before the complete digestion of the DNA.

The Environmental Impact and Ethical Concerns

Genetically modified foods are environmentally friendly. Currently, pollution is an issue in the world. Crops are genetically modified to rectify the problem. Plants alleviate the problem of pollution without relocating the materials that are contaminated. Genetically altered foods exhibit characteristics that are preferable, especially the particular plant's ability to bioaccumulate as well as degrade soil, water, or else air contaminants.

On the other hand, species that are genetically engineered make unpredictable changes to the environment of a region. When new species that are genetically engineered are released into the environment, they cause an ecological imbalance in an area. If an accident occurs while modifying the genes, a severe epidemic could be started. Human genetic engineering accidents result in problems including death (Barfoot and Graham 149).

The Need for Regulation and Understanding

Crops that are genetically modified can potentially cause problems to the environment that result directly from the characteristics acquired from the engineering process. For example, a gene that is engineered may cause wildlife toxicity or invasiveness. Moreover, genetically engineered crops affect agriculture negatively, for instance, cause pesticide resistance. In the United States, millions of acres have been infested with herbicide-resistant weeds. Monsanto’s trait overuse has stimulated the accelerated resistance development in several species of weeds.

The technique of genetic engineering has raised ethical issues. Currently, genes from humans are being used in non-human organisms creating new life forms that are genetically partly human, raising fresh ethical concerns. For example, the number of human genes to be used in an experiment to make a non-human become human is unknown. Genetically engineered rats produce human sperm, raising the issue of the psychological effect being posed to the offspring. Researchers lack knowledge of the genetic modification effects. The most significant concern is that the process is irreversible, once a gene that is altered is placed in an organism.

Conclusion

Many concerns have been raised concerning genetic engineering throughout the world. Individuals are still not sure whether or not to participate in processes of genetic modification. Currently, it stands to be true that genetic modification has been confirmed to have some adverse effects on the health of humans that cannot be ignored. Individuals who are participating in genetically modified processes should first understand the negative consequences attached to it.

Moreover, research for genetic modification ought to be carefully monitored so that products that could potentially cause adverse effects to humans are created under certain circumstances. Several tests for safety as well as examinations should be done to guarantee the side effects do not harm the health of humans. In the future, improved humankind prospects can unfold by doing so. The tests would ensure a world without the crisis of starvation as well as malnutrition; also the maintenance of human health is assured through taking foods that are genetically modified (Taylor et al. 23).

Works Cited

Baltimore, David, et al. "A prudent path forward for genomic engineering and germ line gene modification." Science348.6230 (2015): 36-38.

Barfoot, Peter, and Graham Brookes. "Key global environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996–2012." GM crops & food 5.2 (2014): 149-160.

Bawa, A. S., and K. R. Anilakumar. "Genetically modified foods: safety, risks and public concerns—a review." Journal of food science and technology 50.6 (2013): 1035-1046.

Gaudet, Daniel, et al. "Efficacy and long-term safety of alipogene tiparvovec (AAV1-LPLS447X) gene therapy for lipoprotein lipase deficiency: an open-label trial." Gene therapy 20.4 (2013): 361-369.

Taylor, Ryan, et al. "SHAPING POLICY FOR HUMAN GENETIC MODIFICATION." (2016).

Waddington, Conrad Hal. The strategy of the genes. Vol. 20. Routledge, 2014.